document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1050215>Question 1050215</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the general equation of parabola axis parallel to x-axis and passing through (-1,3/2), (1,0), and (-3,-1)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "kinda confused in what equation should I use in this problem </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #665786 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39617)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=665786\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You might have a choice of starting with standard form or with general form.  Maybe general form is more comfortable to work with.  The parabola is given as  axis of symmetry parallel to the x-axis, so instead of y as a function of x, you would want to use x as a function of y:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "THIS form:  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=ay%5E2%2Bby%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=ay%5E2%2Bby%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and the actual UNKNOWNS are the coefficients and constant, a, b, and c.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Setup the three more specific equations using each of the given three points of your parabola.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=system%28a%283%2F2%29%5E2%2Bb%283%2F2%29%2Bc=-1%2Ca%2A0%5E2%2Bb%2A0%2Bc=1%2Ca%28-1%29%5E2%2Bb%2A%28-1%29%2Bc=-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Simplify the system.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=system%28%289%2F4%29a%2B%283%2F2%29b%2Bc=-1%2Cc=1%2Ca-b%2Bc=-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"system%28%289%2F4%29a%2B%283%2F2%29b%2Bc=-1%2Cc=1%2Ca-b%2Bc=-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "which should be fairly easy to deal with now.  Make the OBVIOUS substitution for c.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "You should do that and do the rest, having made the system into two equations in the two unknowns of a and b. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );